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The uplifting truck sales forecast, delivered by Martin Daum, president and CEO of Daimler Trucks North America, at a special press conference tonight, calls for 373,000 Class 6-8 trucks to be sold into the NAFTA market this year.

“I’m very bullish that we should end with a higher market than in 2013,” Daum said.

Specifically, Daum’s forecast calls for:

Class 8

28,000 trucks to be sold into the Canadian market in 2014 (compared to 27,400 in 2013)

209,500 trucks to be sold into the American market in 2014 (compared to 184,800 in 2013)

24,000 trucks to be sold into the Mexican market in 2014 (compared to 24,300 in2013)

261,500 trucks to be sold into the overall NAFTA market in 2014 (compared to 236,500 in 2013)

That represents a 13% increase for the US market; a 2% increase for the Canadian increase; a 1% drop for the Mexican market; and an 11% increase for the overall NAFTA market.

Class 6-7

6,500 trucks to be sold into the Canadian market in 2014 (compared to 5,300 in 2013)

102,300 trucks to be sold into the American market in 2014 (compared to 95,000 in 2013)

2,300 trucks to be sold into the Mexican market in 2014 (compared to 2,500 in2013)

111,100 trucks to be sold into the overall NAFTA market in 2014 (compared to 102,800 in 2013)

That represents an 8% increase for the overall NAFTA market.

Daum said Daimler has been preparing for the expected uptick in sales by ”quietly” increasing production. The company has added about 1,200 people since last year and is now capable of turning out 100 trucks/day over Q4 2013, a 20% increase.

Of course, Daimler is hoping it will gain the most from the projected upsurge in truck sales. Its NAFTA Class 6-8 in 2013 hit 38.2% and the company hoping to clear 40% in 2014.

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